Abbey Farmhouse

Abbey Farmhouse, located on the site of a former Benedictine Priory, dates back to around 1540 with substantial additions in the early 17th century. It is considered to be of group value, reflecting its significant architectural and historical importance. The east wing is the oldest surviving part, initially believed to have been constructed for Sir Richard Gresham. A cross-wing was added to the west in the early 17th century, extending north to create an L-shaped plan. The farmhouse underwent restoration in the early 20th century.

The east wing is timber-framed with exposed studding and herringbone brick nogging, with some areas restored. It has a plaintiled roof. The south wall features a jettied first floor supported by plain brackets, ornamented with carved buttress-shafts. The bressummer displays leaf-trail carving. The wing has various cavetto mullioned windows with diamond-leaded glass, some original and others good replicas. Evidence remains of a blocked large mullion and transom hall window and of projecting upper windows. A cross-entry has a 4-centre arched doorway leading to an original plank door with a moulded face. A particularly fine original gabled porch faces north, retaining brick nogging; it features an open entrance with a shallow 3-centred arch, approached by three stone steps. The porch contains the original doorway, door, and a 3-light window above. A massive 16th-century brick stack with crowstepped shoulders and three original diamond shafts stands against the north wall.

The west cross-wing is constructed of red brick in a Flemish bond, with a plaintiled roof. The north gable is crowstepped, and both gables have tumbled decoration. To the west is a range of five 19th-century 3-light casement windows, set beneath segmental arches, alongside a 6-panelled raised and fielded door. There are two stacks, one at the north gable end, each featuring two 19th-century shafts arranged in a diamond pattern, topped with star caps.

The interior of the hall features a fine ceiling with roll-moulded cross-beams and substantial oak panelling, largely insertions from the 20th century. A good hall fireplace is present, with a moulded 4-centred brick arch and small shields in the spandrels. Above the fireplace is part of a Jacobean overmantel, brought from elsewhere and altered in the 20th century. A well stair has turned balusters and a moulded handrail, likely dating to the early 17th century. A hall chamber has a moulded stuccoed fireplace with a shield and foliage in the spandrels. An adjacent room has an altered fireplace with stone jambs, each containing a shield within a square panel, and is lined with complete 16th-17th century panelling. A 17th-century plank and muntin partition within the cross-wing forms a side passage. The roof over the 16th-century range incorporates a row of clasped purlins, 2-way wind-bracing, and evidence of original dormer windows. Traces of a moat are visible to the east.